Beyond the Stars (30 page)

I sat quietly and was able to overhear what Karis, Enos, and several other crew members were saying as they stood around us. They were talking about how terrible it was that I brought Tyden back from the dead. Enos said I had no respect for an honorable death. I looked up to see him glowering at me. I turned away and watched Urit care for Tyden. Enos didn’t stop there. I heard him say that I was completely out of bounds—that my ignorance disgraced the Katarian beliefs. The small crowd was growing around us and chimed in as well. Their comments became more disturbing. I could feel the weight of their stares bearing down on me. Enos continued to add to the disruption by grumbling about my encounter with the Dreons in the cave. He said it would endanger the entire crew. He said I might have started a war. I’d dealt with his kind before. He was a gossip-hungry naysayer who enjoyed getting a rise out of people by delivering some bad news. I knew it was pointless to try and defend myself at this time. It would only make matters worse. I could feel my lips thin in rage. I looked up at him. Our eyes met in an unfriendly glare. Then, as if that weren’t enough, I saw his eyes widen and his jaw drop open when he noticed Gaelan’s exposed bracelet on my wrist. He looked like he was going into shock. The angry murmurs of their voices were overwhelming. I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to get out of there. I found my strength and quickly got up. Urit noticed my appalled expression and asked if I was okay. I falsely assured him that I was fine, to hide my fury. I quickly exited the landing and bolted full speed through the corridors to my room to escape from their hostile comments.

I finally made it to the safety of my quarters, slammed the door, and locked it behind me. I slunk down onto the floor in my wet clothes and leaned my head against the wall to catch my breath. My fingers were freezing. I rubbed them together, trying to generate some heat. I pulled my knees to my chest and put my head down, trying to stop my lips from quivering. Cylinders of ice melted off the strands of my hair and dropped onto the floor, forming puddles of water around me. What a mess this day had become. Thoughts of the gruesome details from the vision the sadistic alien had given me resurfaced. The feeling of looking death so close in the face was something I would never forget.

My eyes filled with tears. There was no stopping them. I started to sob uncontrollably. I twirled the metal bracelet around my wrist, looking for the clasp. The thing looked completely solid. I couldn’t even see where the opening was. It had a swirly pattern engraved in the metal. I tugged and pulled at it with all my might, trying to remove it. I whipped my hand back and banged it on the wall. It was no use. The bracelet was just tight enough to prevent me from sliding it off, and its clasp wouldn’t release. I huffed in frustration as I tore my wet clothes from my body. I wished I could take back my decision to go to Decca in the first place. All this could have been avoided. I jumped into the shower and defiantly pressed the rinse button three times. It was the closest thing to therapy I could find.
Who cares about conserving water? They are probably going to kick me off the ship anyway
.

I slipped on my nightgown and slid into Gaelan’s bed. It was comfortable and heated. I’d never slept in it before. Memories about the scary Dreon, Tyden’s lifeless body floating across the dark water, and the lurking sea creatures underneath me rushed through my mind. They seemed impossible to suppress. I remembered Enos’s spiteful remarks and his judgmental expression. I clenched my jaw tightly, grinding my teeth. I didn’t want the Dreons to endanger my new Katarian friends. “
Ahh
,” I groaned to myself. This was unbearable. I wanted to take the images out of my brain. I lay there wondering if they would’ve just let me die if I’d fallen in. I hoped that at least Noah would’ve tried to save me. My anxiety soared when Gaelan didn’t come back to the room. He’d already worked his shift today. Clearly, we were already underway. I was sure I felt a nudge as the landing gear retracted when I ran down the hall. Gaelan was probably discussing my outlandish actions with the others. How was I supposed to know that CPR was such a repulsive act?

CHAPTER 20

EXPLANATION

Three hours must have passed before Gaelan came through the door. I had waited curled up in a fetal position on his bed, unable to sleep due to the torturous thoughts replaying in my head. He approached the bed and settled in beside me, before leaning up on his arm to look me in the eyes.

“Sami, how are you doing?” he asked cautiously.

“Better, now,” I lied.

“I’m glad. You really had me worried. Urit said you looked really upset when you left the landing.”

“Well, the truth is, I am very upset.” I paused, searching for the main reason. I sat up in the bed. “Would you have saved me if I fell in the water like Tyden? Or would you have just let me die?” I cried.

He sighed. “No!
Never
… how can you think that? Don’t you trust me?” He sat up on the bed and rubbed his head with both of his hands. He was quiet for a moment before turning towards me and pushing a long strand of my hair behind my ear. “I would
never
let anything happen to you. You mean everything to me. I just thought I would be able to pull you out more easily when you swam back to me.”

“The Paramante wouldn’t stop you from jumping in?”

“No, Sami. If I thought you were in immediate danger, I would
never
hesitate. Look, I’m sorry I called you stubborn earlier today. I didn’t mean it. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I had no right. If anyone is stubborn, it’s me. You didn’t understand the dangers. I’m sorry I put you in that position,” he said regretfully.

“It’s not your fault. I should have listened to you,” I said remorsefully.

“Of course it is. I shouldn’t have brought you on the expedition. It’s my duty to protect you since I’m the reason you’re aboard the ship in the first place. I just wanted to spend some time with you outside of the confines of the ship. Needless to say,
it didn’t go as I had imagined.
I acted selfishly. It wasn’t safe for you.” Gaelan pulled me to his chest and gave me a warm hug. My body melted. He made me feel so protected.

“I guess you already heard that Enos, Karis, and pretty much everyone else aboard hates me.” I pulled myself away from his embrace after a few seconds. I was still extremely anxious about their reactions.

“Yes, I heard some rumors. But it’s all taken care of.” His voice was calm and reassuring.

“Why? What’s the consensus of the ship? Are you turning me over to the Dreons?” I replied sarcastically. I wanted to know everything they said, regardless of how much it hurt. I hated gossip, especially when it was about me.

“No, don’t be ridiculous.” Gaelan shook his head and appeared to be holding back a laugh. “Thank Urit. He held an emergency meeting and explained to the crew about your ancient technique of rescue breathing. He demonstrated how you stimulated Tyden to breathe by blowing up his lungs like a balloon. Now, everyone understands that you didn’t bring Tyden back from the dead but just reminded him to breathe.”

“But Karis was really freaked out.”

“She’s fine. She didn’t understand before. Karis is young. She is accustomed to relying on our technology. When you used only your breath to save Tyden, it became far too personal for her.”

“So, Karis and the rest of the crew are no longer angry with me?”

“Actually, now,” he said with a rise in his voice, “you are sort of a hero. When word got out that you risked your life to save Tyden despite the icy water and the Paramante, their judgment quickly changed. Everyone is impressed by your self-sacrifice.”

“How’s Tyden?”

“He’s okay. Urit is keeping him in the hospital for observation.”

“Enos said I disgraced Tyden by taking away his honorable death. He seemed angry that I saved him.”

“Enos doesn’t even know what an honorable death is. For a young kid, his beliefs are outdated. He thinks everyone over three hundred should be dead.”

“Tyden’s over
three hundred?
” I was stunned. “Impossible! He looks
so
young.”

“Yes, he is three hundred and then some. No one really knows for sure or is willing to figure it out.” He let out a chuckle. “One thing I learned about living in Space is that you have to be willing to let go of some of the constant variables in your life. We all tend to think in black and white terms, but the universe is gray. Age becomes irrelevant. I think Tyden secretly knows how old he really is, though. He is meticulous about every other detail in his life. I just think that he prefers to keep it to himself.”

“I can’t believe it.
How
is that possible?”

“We’ve made serious strides in our ability to protect and renew our bodies. Urit alone has made some of the greatest contributions in the last fifty years.”

“Urit gave me that vaccine.” I gasped. “Will I be around that long?”

“No, but you will live longer than you would have without it. Your body will age more slowly. Does that scare you?” He had a look of curiosity cross his face.

“More than you can imagine.”

“You don’t have to worry about being alone.” He smiled and looked me in the eyes. His face lit up with his offer. He looked amazing. I could definitely look at him for another two hundred and fifty years or so.

“Hmm,” I voiced as I considered the bright side. “Tempting.” Gaelan leaned over and kissed me gently. I closed my eyes and focused on his soft lips pressing mine. “How old are you?” I asked as my face left his.

“Wow, um … by your measurements?” Gaelan hesitated before he looked down and bit his lip.

“Okay, not exactly, but approximately,” I asked casually, bracing myself for his answer.

“Well, time varies around the universe. It speeds up and slows down depending on where you are and how fast you are moving. One second on Earth is not absolute in the rest of Space,” he explained.

“Wow, Albert Einstein’s theory was right again.”

“Yes, he was one of your brightest. But, to answer your question, I have to consider the time I traveled as well as my time on Kataria and Earth. Then you must consider the fact that our body’s age much slower when traveling in Outer Space.” He looked perplexed by the question. “We also have twenty-six-hour days instead of your twenty-four. Our year calendar is three hundred and seventy-eight days; yours is three hundred and sixty-five. Let’s make it easy,” he said, giving up. “If I just stayed on Kataria, I am four years older than Azil and five years older than Liam. I would be seventy-one.” He looked me in the eyes. “Is that
okay
? How old do you want me to be?” he said in a precautious manner. He looked at me with a heavy stare, awaiting my answer.

“I don’t care how old you are. It doesn’t matter. I love you just the way you are.”

“I can’t believe I’ve lived so long without knowing you. To think all I had to do was hang out on Earth.” He hugged me tightly in relief as I accepted his ambiguous explanation.

“Gaelan, I have to ask you something,” I said hesitantly.

“Sure, anything,” he said with a half-smile.

I bravely looked up at him. “Is it possible for us to continue seeing each other after I return home? Or will this be it?” I couldn’t help remembering what Urit had said about Gaelan being unable to commit to a serious relationship. My protective armor had surfaced to guard me from the emotional pain I would feel if I lost him. I wasn’t sure if I would survive.

“That’s up to you,” he said coolly.

“What do you mean?” I asked, fearful of his answer.

“If you will have me.” He sighed uncomfortably. Gaelan leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees as he ran his fingers through his tousled hair, a nervous habit I noticed he reverted to whenever I asked him something that made him uncomfortable.

“You make it sound so easy. Did you even stop to think that maybe the reason our homes are so far apart is that we never should have met? Maybe we shouldn’t have gotten so involved. Our relationship really complicates things. I can’t help but worry about all the trouble I’ve caused you and will cause you in the future just from our cultural misunderstandings. What if it’s a mistake trying to be together? Sometimes, I feel like I should’ve just stayed in my own world,” I blurted out—regretting the burning words as soon as they left my lips.

“It doesn’t matter what anybody else thinks. This is about us,” he said adamantly. He turned his body back towards me with his eyes penetrating me deeply. “Are you
trying
to push me away?” he asked, sounding rattled.